Apparatus for actuating a flush valve



1967. D. c. SCHROCK APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING A FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 23,1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 O I lllllahl-lnlih INVENTOR. Donald G Schrock BYWWRMvw-M/wlr HIS ATTORNEYS 3%? m, c. scHRocK APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING AFLUSH VALVE 4 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. Dona/'0 6TSchrock Feb. 7, 3%? 5;). c. SCHROCZK 3302,21?"

APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING A FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 133, i965 4Sheets-Sheet 5 @l 1 2;! l8 1 ii H}, I ii i 39 Z El 5 1 8 M 4| I a W '251 40 I*' 2 X 4 V II 5: l5 :2 l4) lwv- .i|;

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, j IO INVENTOR. Donald C. Sch/0M HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 D. c.SCHROCK 3,302,217

APPARATUS FOR ACTUATIING A FLUSH VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25,1965 INVENTOR. Donald C Schroc/r H/S ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 302217 APPARATUS FOR AcrUATruo A FLUSH VALVE Donald C. Schrock, .lohnstown,Pa, assignor to Crane Company, Johnstown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl-Vania Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 434,584 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) Thisapplication relates to apparatus for actuating a flush valve and moreparticularly to apparatus for actuating a flush valve on a water closethaving a bowl and a tank for holding water which is discharged from thetank into the bowl to flush the bowl, the valve controlling the flow ofwater from the tank into the bowl.

The valve is opened manually, resulting in gravity discharge of waterfrom the tank into the bowl. When the tank has been emptied the valvecloses, and the tank is automatically refilled with water. The apparatuswhich I have invented holds the valve open while the tank is beingdischarged and permits the valve to close when the desired low liquidlevel in the tank has been reached.

My apparatus comprises a closed cylinder which is divided into twobodies by a partition which extends diametrically across the interior ofthe cylinder. The cylinder is mounted for rotation about its centralaxis on a horizontally extending shaft which may be mounted on aconventional overflow pipe with which water closet tanks areconventionally provided. When in position the cylinder is below the toplevel of liquid in the tank and above the flush valve.

A chain connects a conventional flush lever to a point on the peripheryof the cylinder and extends from that point to the flush valve whichcontrols the flow of water from the tank into the water closet bowl. Thelength of the chain between the cylinder and the valve is such that whenthe valve is held closed by pressure of water in the tank, the partitionwithin the cylinder is approximately horizontal, so that there is ahollow body above the axis of rotation of the cylinder and a second bodybeneath the axis of rotation which comprises material having a densityless than the density of water or which may be hollow.

The lower body, if hollow, is empty and is both air and water-tight. Theupper hollow body has openings in its periphery so that when the waterin the tank is at its top operating level, the upper hollow body isfilled with water.

When the flush lever is manually actuated, the chain connecting it withthe cylinder is pulled, causing the cylinder to rotate about itshorizontal axis approximately 90 in a direction to open the valve. Inthis position of the cylinder the partition is approximately verticaland the two bodies are on opposite sides of the axis of rotation. Solong as the water in the tank is above the bottom of the cylinder, thebody having a density less than that of water will tend to rise in thewater and thereby keep the valve open. When the water level in the tankdrops beneath the bottom of the cylinder, the weight of the water in thewater-filled hollow body will tend to rotate the cylinder in the samedirection, thus keeping the valve open.

There are three openings in the hollow body containing water and theyare positioned in the periphery of the body so that when the cylinderhas been rotated to open the valve and the partition within the cylinderis approximately vertical, there is one opening at the top of the hollowbody, one opening at its bottom and one opening in its side. Therefore,as the level of the liquid in the tank falls past the cylinder, waterflows out of the side and bottom openings. However, these openings areso sized that all of the water does not drain out of the hollow bodyuntil the water in the tank has reached the desired low level. At thatpoint, weight ice of the valve will rotate the cylinder in the oppositedirection approximately and the valve will close and be held closed bywater flowing into the tank when the float valve opens.

As the water rises in the tank past the cylinder, it will fill thehollow body through the two openings which formerly were at the top andbottom of the body and now are at the sides of the body. The thirdopening is now at the top and acts as a vent for air to leave the bodyas the body fills-with water.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain presentlypreferred embodiments of my invention in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are front views partially in vertical section showing myflush valve operating apparatus in valve open and valve closed positionsrespectively;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the cylinder which operates the flush valveand on a larger scale than that used in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line IVIV of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the operating cylinder shown in FIGURES 3 and4;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of alternate apparatus for supporting a valveactuating cylinder such as is shown in FIGURES 3 to 5 inclusive;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 6mounted on an overflow pipe such as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial plan view of a water closet tank showing my flushvalve actuating apparatus installed within a water closet tank;

FIGURE 10 is a partial elevation of a modified form of flush valveoperating apparatus; and

FIGURE 11 is a section along the lines XIXI of FIGURE 10.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, the flush valve which is actuated by theapparatus which I have invented comprises a shank 9 extending throughthe bottom 10 of a water tank (shown in section) which is sealed by agasket 11 within an opening 12 in the tank bottom 10 and held in theopening by a lock nut 13. Integral with the shank 9 is a valve body 14which carries a valve seat 15 closed by a flapper valve 16. The valvebody 14 also has an upwardly extending sleeve 17 into which an overflowpipe 18 is fitted and sealed. All of the foregoing is conventional andin accordance with the usual practice; the overflow tube 18 extendsabove the top liquid level in the tank, the top liquid level beingindicated by the dash line 19.

When the tank is emptied to flush a water closet bowl, the flapper valve16 is raised from the valve seat 15 and it is held off the seat 15 untilthe liquid level on the tank reaches its desired lower level in thetank, whereupon the flapper valve drops on to the valve seat 15 andcloses the flush valve. As the water level in the tank drops, aconventional float valve (not shown) opens and water starts flowing intothe tank. My flush valve actuating apparatus opens the flapper valveupon manual actuation of a conventional flush lever and holds the valvein open position until the water level in the tank reaches the desiredlower level in the tank, whereupon my apparatus permits the flappervalve to lower and close the flush valve.

The apparatus of my invention includes a closed cylinder 20 which has aninterior partition 21 which extends diametrically across the cylinderand divides the cylinder into two hollow bodies 22 and 23. The cylinderis mount.- ed for rotation about a shaft 24 which extends horizon tallyfrom the overflow pipe 18 and holds the cylinder beneath the topoperating water level and above the flush valve. The partition 21 has acentral semi-circular portion 21a which extends around the shaft 24.

A chain 25 connects the flapper valve 16 to the periphery of thecylinder 20 at a point 26 which is approximately in the same horizontalplane as the shaft 24 when the cylinder 20 is in valve closed position.As shown in FIGURE 1, when the cylinder 20 is in valve closed positionthe partition 21 is generally horizontal and the hollow body 22 issubstantially above the axis of rotation of the cylinder and theair-tight hollow body 23 is substantially below said axis.

From the point 26 on the periphery of the cylinder 211 the chaincontinues as an extension 25a to a conventional manually actuated flushlever (not shown).

The hollow body 23 is empty and is both air and watertight. The hollowbody 22 has three openings 27, 28 and 29, the openings 27 and 29 beingon opposite sides of the hollow body 22, and above the center of theaxle 24 when cylinder 20 is in valve closed position. The opening 28 ispositioned in the periphery of the hollow body 22 between the openings27 and 29 and is vertically above the axle 24 when the cylinder 20 is invalve closed position. When the water level in the tank rises above thecylinder 20 upon refilling of the tank after a flushing, the hollow body22 fills with water through the openings 27 and 29, the opening 28acting as an air vent.

The cylinder 20 is held in the valve closed position shown in FIGURE 1by the chain 25 and extension 25a. When the flush lever is actuated toopen the valve 15, it pulls the chain extension 25a in the directionindicated by the arrow in FIGURE 2 and rotates the cylinder 20counterclockwise (viewing FIGURES 1 and 2) approximately 90 to theposition shown in FIGURE 2. Since the cylinder is connected by the chain25 to the flapper valve 16, this raises the flapper valve and opens theflush valve so that water flows from the toilet tank into the watercloset bowl.

As shown in FIGURE 2, when the cylinder 20 is in the valve openposition, the partition 21 is substantially vertical and the emptyhollow body 23 is substantially to the right (viewing FIGURE 2) of theaxle 24, and the body 22 which is filled with water is to the left ofthe axle 24. So long as the water level in the tank is above the bottomof the cylinder 20, the hollow body 23 will tend to rise in the tank,and the weight of the water in the hollow body 22 will tend to move itdownwardly, thus creating a force tending to rotate the cylinder 20counterclockwise and hold the flapper valve 16 in open position.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that, when the cylinder 20 isin..valve open position, the opening 29 is at the bottom of the hollowbody 22 and the opening 27 is at the top. Therefore, as the water levelin the tank drops, water .in the body 22 will flow out of the opening29. However, the sizes of the opening 28 and the opeping 29 are suchthat water remains in the hollow body 22 after the liquid level in thetank has dropped below the bottom of the cylinder and the weight of thewater in the hollow body holds the flapper valve 16 open until the lowwater level in the tank has been reached. The weight of the flappervalve 16 will then cause it to drop to close the flush valve and rotatethe cylinder 20 into the valve closed position shown in FIGURE 1. Thetank is then filled with water and the valve is held in closed positionby Water pressure.

FIGURES 3 to 5 inclusive show the construction of the cylinder 20. It isformed of two dish-shaped half sections 20a and 20b sealed together at atongue and groove joint 30 which extends around their opposed edges. Thebottoms 31 of the dish-shaped sections have bearings 32 to mount thecylinder for rotation about the shaft 24.

A sleeve 33 bonded to the overflow pipe 18 has a horizontally extendingopening 34 into which the shaft 24 extends. A cap screw 35 threadedaxially into the shaft 24 holds it within the sleeve 33, and a snap ring36 on 4 the outer end of the shaft 24 holds the cylinder 20 on theshaft.

A boss 37 formed in the interior of the cylinder at the point 26 shownin FIGURES 1 and 2 provides material into which a cap screw 37a can bethreaded to secure the chain 25 to the cylinder at the point 26 referredto with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.

The faces of the cylinder 20 have eccentric rims 200 (see FIGURES l, 2and 5) which serve to hold the chain 25 on the cylinder as the cylinderis rotated.

FIGURES 6 to 8 inclusive show a modified arrangement for mounting thecylinder 20 on an overflow pipe such as the pipe 18 of the previousfigures. A sleeve 38 having an interior diameter slightly greater thanthe outside diameter of the overflow pipe 18, so that the sleeve canslide over the pipe, has at its upper end an integral lateral extension39 similar to the sleeve 33 shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The cylinder 20 ismounted on the extension 39 in the same manner as it is mounted on thesleeve 33. The bottom end of the sleeve 38 has a collar 49 which extendsdownwardly from the sleeve 38 but only partially around the sleeve asshown in FIG- URES 6 to 8 inclusive. The purpose of the collar 40 is toposition the sleeve 38 with respect to the overflow pipe 18 so that thecylinder 20 mounted on the extension 39 at the top of the sleeve 38 willbe in proper position relative to the flapper valve 16. As shown inFIGURES 1, 2 and 8, the valve body 14 carries outwardly and upwardlyextending hooks 41 on which arms 42 of the flapper valve are pivotallymounted. The collar 40 fits outside the sleeve 17, in which the overflowpipe 18 is mounted and behind the hooks 41 and thereby angularlypositions the sleeve 38 with respect to the overflow pipe 18 and therebypositions the cylinder 20 with respect to the pper valve 16.

FIGURE 9 is a partial plan view of a water closet t-ank showing my flushvalve actuating apparatus installed within a Water closet tank. The tankhas a front wall 43 and a rear wall 44-, the overflow pipe 18 and afloat valve 45. The tank also has a flush lever 46 which is rotatablymounted in the front wall 43 of the tank and is turned to pull on thechain extension 25a by manually pressing downwardly on a hand lever 47on the outside of the front 43 of the tank.

FIGURES 10 and 11 show a modification of my valve actuating mechanism,which modification is directed primarily to the construction of the bodywhich has a density less than the density of water and which holds theflapper valve 15 in valve open position during a flushing operation. Inthe modification the water buoyant half-section of the cylinder 20comprises a body 48 of cellular material having a density less than thatof water. It is cut or formed to a size to fit within one-half of thecylinder 20 and is held in place by tabs 49 which are formed integrallywith the dish-shaped sections 20:: and 20b, from which the cylinder isformed. The operation of the modification of FIGURES 10 and 11 is thesame as that described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.

Suitable materials for the buoyant body 48 are closed cell plastics suchas expanded polystyrene or expanded urethane.

The use of closed cell plastic material to form the buoyant body 48,instead of a closed hollow body, eliminates manufacturing diflicultiesarising from the necessity of securing the two dish-shaped sections 20::and 20b to each other by an air and water-tight joint. The buoyantmaterial provides the same operation as before without the possibilityof leakage and resulting failure to operate.

The valve actuating mechanism which I have invented is characterized bysimplicity in manufacture, installation and use. It can be manufacturedat relatively low cost; it is easily installed, is wholly automatic inits operation; and it will operate indefinitely without attention orrepair.

While I have described certain presently preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise embodiedwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for flushing the bowl of a water closet having a tank tocontain liquid, an aperture in the tank for the flow of water from thetank to the bowl to flush the bowl and a valve for controlling the flowof water through the aperture, apparatus for actuating the valvecomprising,

(A) first and second bodies connected to each other,

(1) said first body having a density less than that of water,

(2) said second body 'being hollow and having openings for the flow ofwater into and out of said body,

(B) means for rotatably mounting said bodies for rotation about ahorizontal axis extending in a plane passing between the bodies, saidmeans also positioning bodies within the tank below the top level ofwater in the tank prior to flushing and above said aperture,

(C) a manually operated flush lever mounted on the tank,

(D) means connecting said bodies and said flush lever to rotate saidbodies about said horizontal axis upon movement of the flush lever,

(E) means connecting said bodies and said valve to control opening andclosing of said valve by rotation of said bodies about said horizontalaxis,

(F) the connecting means between said bodies and said valve positioningthe bodies when the valve is closed and the water in the tank is at itstop level so that said first body is predominantly positioned below saidhorizontal axis and said second body is predominantly above said axis,

(G) movement of said flush lever rotating said bodies about saidhorizontal axis to open said valve and to move said bodies to positionspredominantly on opposite sides of said axis at which positions saidfirst body tends to rise in water in the tank, thereby imposing on saidbodies a tendency to rotate about the common axis and hold the valve inopen position, and

(H) the openings in said second body admitting water to said body whenthe valve is closed and the water level rises in the tank towards alevel above said second body and providing for draining of water fromsaid second body when the valve is opened and the water level lowers inthe tank towards a level below said second body, the draining of liquidout of said second body controlling rotation of said bodies about theirhorizontal axis to hold the valve open until the desired low liquidlevel in the tank is reached, and permitting closing of the valve whensaid low level is reached.

2. Flushing apparatus as degcribed in claim 1 in which said first bodyis empty and liquid-tight.

3. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said first bodycomprises a cellular material having a density less than that of water.

4. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said first bodycomprises a plastic closed cell material having a density less than thatof water.

5. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said two bodiesconsist in a single container divided by a partition into twocompartments sealed from each other.

6. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said two bodiescomprise a closed hollow cylinder having a partition extendingdiametrically across the interior of the cylinder and forming twocompartments, and in which a shaft extends axially through said cylinderadjacent said partition, said cylinder having means for rotatablymounting it upon said shaft.

7. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said means forrotatably mounting said bodies comprises an overflow tube in the tank, ashaft extending horizontally from said tube and means for mounting saidbodies for rotation about said shaft.

8. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said means forrotatably mounting said bodies comprises an overflow tube in the tank, asleeve fitting over said tube, a shaft mounted on said tube adjacent itsupper end and extending horizontally from said sleeve, and means formounting said bodies for rotation about said shaft.

9. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said second bodyhas three openings for the flow of liquid in and out of said body, twoof said openings being positioned at opposite sides of said body and,when the body is above said axis, on opposite sides of said axis, thethird opening being positioned in the body between said two openings.

10. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 9 in which one of said twooppositely positioned openings is at the bottom of said second body whenthe body has been rotated to open the valve and in which the size ofsaid bottom opening is such that when the liquid level drops in the tankbelow said body, liquid will fiow out of the body through said openingat such a rate that said body will be emptied as the desired low liquidlevel in the tank is approached permitting rotation of both said bodiesin a direction to close the aperture by said valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1956 Hurko etal. 457 8/1964 Lackenmaier et al 4-62

1. IN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING THE BOWL OF A WATER CLOSET HAVING A TANK TOCONTAIN LIQUID, AN APERTURE IN THE TANK FOR THE FLOW OF WATER FROM THETANK TO THE BOWL TO FLUSH THE BOWL AND A VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOWOF WATER THROUGH THE APERTURE, APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE VALVECOMPRISING, (A) FIRST AND SECOND BODIES CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER, (1)SAID FIRST BODY HAVING A DENSITY LESS THAN THAT OF WATER, (2) SAIDSECOND BODY BEING HOLLOWED AND HAVING OPENINGS FOR THE FLOW OF WATERINTO AND OUT OF SAID BODY, (B) MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BODIESFOR ROTATION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS EXTENDING IN A PLANE PASSINGBETWEEN THE BODIES, SAID MEANS ALSO POSITIONING BODIES WITHIN THE TANKBELOW THE TOP LEVEL OF WATER IN THE TANK PRIOR TO FLUSHING AND ABOVESAID APERTURE, (C) A MANUALLY OPERATED FLUSH LEVER MOUNTED ON THE TANK,(D) MEANS CONNECTING SAID BODIES AND SAID FLUSH LEVER TO ROTATE SAIDBODIES ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS UPON MOVEMENT OF THE FLUSH LEVER, (E)MEANS CONNECTING SAID BODIES AND SAID VALVE TO CONTROL OPENING ANDCLOSING OF SAID VALVE BY ROTATION OF SAID BODIES ABOUT SAID HORIZONTALAXIS,